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Meiosis will create four cells when there was originally only one cell. That means that those four cells will only have half of the amount of DNA that is needed by each cell and means that when a cell goes through the meiosis process, it is not concerned about creating another working cell. Rather it is concerned about reproducing and creating an organism.

Plants, animals and even some fungi undergo meiosis in order to shuffle the cell's genes around. The first step of meiosis I or meiosis II involves pairs of chromosomes lining up at the center of the cell. Then, these cells are pulled to each side at the outermost corner of the cell. During this stage a crossing over happens, which is the exchange of genes in the DNA. These genes are mixed up so that the final result is not a perfect duplicate like mitosis. The cell divides and is left with two new cells with a single pair of chromosomes. The second stage begins immediately and leaves the two cells with four haploid cells. These haploid cells are called gametes. The gametes eventually find other gametes to combine with and form a new organism.